Running - Half-Marathon Training #37-39

Race day is in less than a week so I'm on the tapering down end of the schedule.  I did four, two, and six mile runs this week.  We had a beautiful week this week but I was feeling kind of down so on my first two runs I went out unplugged just to enjoy the sunshine and listen to the birds sing...no watches, no music, no gadgets, just me and nature.  Oh, and I tried out some new shoes on the two mile run.  I ordered these Saucony shoes hoping that the wider toe box would help my blister situation.  My feet have had a chance to heal pretty well during this tapering down phase so I thought I would get a pretty good indication of how they would do.  So far, so good, even after the six mile run.  They aren't anything to look at.  If only I could find nice fitting shoe, made in America, that isn't hideous looking.  If I were famous and somebody wanted to put my name on a product this is what I would ask for.

My neighbor Lindsay and her baby Cade joined me on the six mile run.  She was interested in my long route so Kenny drove us out to the end point and we ran back.  Having company on the run definitely made the miles go by faster.  We made pretty good time too, especially considering she was pushing a jogging stroller.  It was nice to hear about her race experiences.  I found out that she followed her first half-marathon with her first full marathon.  I have always said that running a full marathon is not something I ever aspire to do.  But, now that I've trained up for half, I wonder if I should just go for the full while I'm at it.  I would just have to figure out a way to lose a few pounds and still remain strong.  I feel like my running has really improved but I've lost a lot of core and arm strength while trying to guard my rest time.  I've also gained a few pounds because I can't quite figure out how to eat reasonably while running so much.  Kenny and Sophie were very nice and had dinner almost ready when Lindsay and I got back.  We had spaghetti with veggie-meat sauce, green beans, apple schorle, toast, and kiwi.  After all of that I asked him what was for dinner and ate an apple and some cheese and crackers.  Out of control.

In any case, I've started scoping out marathons and training plans.  I have my eye on the Königsschlösser Romantic Marathon at the end of July, but I guess I'll wait until I've completed the half this weekend and then I'll decide what I want to do.

Goals

Today:  Have fun during a social run.

Short term:  Try to stay healthy and on schedule.
Long term:  Complete the Prague Half-Marathon within the maximum race time of 3 hours.

Stats
Distance:  5.71 miles
Time:  54.36
Pace:  About 9.34
Weather:  Upper 40s

Thoughts

• I'm sure there's a great reason for the two-week taper in the weeks before a race, but it's messing with my confidence a little bit.  It would be nice to just stick with the program and run one more mile every week.  Two lighter weeks makes me fear that I'm going to lose strength and endurance.

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Running - Half-Marathon Training #36

I was talking to Sarah on the phone last night and I told her I didn't think I would make it to Sculpt & Burn because I had to do a three mile run.  She told me to come to class and she would do the run with me after class.  I haven't been to the gym in a long time so I agreed to go, keeping in mind that I might need to pace myself since my legs still ached from Monday's long run.  I actually felt loosened up after class so it all worked out.  And, some other ladies decided to join us which was really nice.

I've been a solo runner all of this time except  so it was nice to change things up a bit and run with other people.  After all, there will be lots of other people around in the race.  Most of the run was done at a conversational pace but Sarah and I sprinted at the end.  She left me in the dust and my fastest pace was 5:55.  She's one fast girl.

During our run I told Sarah more about my blistered feet and she took a look when we were done.  She said the blisters are definitely caused by my shoes and I need a brand that features a larger toe box like Adidas or Saucony.  That wasn't good news since I just bought a pair of New Balance.  She said it's not all bad to have two pairs.  I can wear the New Balance on shorter runs and the ones with a larger toe box on longer runs.  The PX actually has a good selection of running shoes right now so I picked up a Saucony pair.  After getting home and reading about them though, I found they aren't appropriate for my feet.  They are for serious over-pronators.  So, I went on Amazon and ordered last year's model of a version that is for people that need neutral shoes.  I didn't want to pay for this year's model when I'm not sure whether this shoe will work for me or not.  I guess it's going to be trial and error at this point.  It's a bummer because I found a pair of platform sandals that I really wanted.  I couldn't justify buying them because I needed to get the running shoes instead, and I didn't even have the gumption to try them on because of my blisters.

The important lesson for me to remember is that I need to listen to my body and get help before things get serious.  It took a couple of people adamantly telling me that huge blisters are not normal before I decided to suck up the cost and get another pair of shoes.  I guess I just thought that some unpleasantness is normal with running long distance and you just have to put up with it.  I had a similar, though more serious problem with breastfeeding.  Everybody says it's kind of uncomfortable in the beginning and the nurses said something along the same lines when I called in desperation shortly after being released from the hospital.  There was not a lactation consultant in our area so I called the OB nurses for help.  I suffered for four months before I decided to see a lactation consultant while on vacation.  It turns out I had Raynaud's Syndrome which acts like frostbite.  Imagine having a baby latch onto a bloody, cracked surface that feels like it has frostbite.  Yeah.  I should have gotten help sooner.  I guess the same goes for my feet.  But, it's just short runs for me now until the race so I should have a chance to heal and I already know that the blisters won't stop me from completing a long run so it will be fine.

Goals

Today:  Have fun during a social run.

Short term:  Try to stay healthy and on schedule.
Long term:  Complete the Prague Half-Marathon within the maximum race time of 3 hours.

Stats
Distance:  3 miles
Time:  About 33 minutes
Pace:  Around 11 minute miles with a fast sprint at the end
Weather:  50s

Thoughts

• Now that I'm a more confident runner, maybe I'm ready to start running with people.

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Running - Half-Marathon Training #35

New Shoes + Long Run = Ugly blood blister keeping my other blisters and callouses company.  I didn't think it was possible for my feet to get any uglier and then they did.  But, it's my own fault.  I knew I shouldn't wear new shoes on a long run, but I dismissed my inner parental voice and proceeded to act like a child who's going to do what she wants to do in spite of the wise advice of her parents.

This was a really good run in spite of the ugly things that happened to my feet.  Conditions were great.  Temperatures were in the upper 50s which felt really warm.  They sky was overcast and the roads were dry.  Other than feeling a bit jet lagged I felt good.  I switched from trail running shoes to regular running shoes so my feet felt light.  On February 4, just a few weeks ago, I was really proud of myself because I pushed really hard and completed three miles in under 30 minutes, achieving a better than 10 minute mile pace for the first time.  Today, I amazingly finished 12 miles with about a 9:55 minute pace.  I did the whole thing in just under two hours.  This means it took me only two minutes longer to do 12 miles that it took me to do 11.  And, I finished the 12 miles three minutes faster than my 10 miles.  That's good improvement!  So, why so fast today?  Usually I don't pay much attention to speed on my long runs but today I had to get back to pick up Sophia from school.  I thought maybe I would have to cut my run short.  But, I pushed hard and made it back in time to even get a quick bath and doctor my feet.  This was my last long run before the half-marathon and I'm confident that I will be able to complete the race with pride.

Gear

I detest white running shoes because I always wear dark bottoms and it seems ridiculous to have glowing white shoes with dark tights, pants, or shorts.  But, I found these New Balance 920s at DSW Shoe Warehouse for a good price so I went ahead and picked them up.  They will never be worn to they gym where people will see me.  They will only be worn for running out and about where I look ridiculous anyway.

After all of this training, my favorite socks are the North Face socks.  They fit comfortably, keep my feet dry, don't have any extra padding to aggravate my big toe mounds where clearly I have trouble, and they come up a little bit on the ankle to cover my skin when it's cold outside. 

I ate one Clif Shot Blok Energy Chew every two miles.  They tasted good, went down easily, and kept me from being incoherent after my run.  I did not feel at all hungry after my run which was good news.  I had been having trouble with unhealthy carb cravings after my long runs.  I'm not one to say that all carbs are bad, so by unhealthy carb cravings I mean Pizza Hut, brownies, etc.  Even though I wasn't hungry I ate an Odwalla Original Super Protein bar with 14 grams of protein after my run.  I think I'm finally figuring out how to fuel myself.  My friend Kate who is a great runner is just now experimenting with longer distances and is also trying to figure this stuff out.  She noticed that the chews and other energy products are largely composed of sugars so she ate two gummy bears periodically on her last long run and she said that worked great.  Germany offers a great selection of gummis so picked up some at the store today.

Goals

Today:  Try to finish 12 miles before Sophie's pick up time.

Short term:  Try to stay healthy and on schedule.
Long term:  Complete the Prague Half-Marathon within the maximum race time of 3 hours.

Stats
Distance:  12 miles
Time:  Just under 2 hours
Pace:  Just under 10 minutes per mile
Weather:  Upper 50s

Thoughts

• I am absolutely amazed with what I've been able to accomplish.  I believe I have the heart and determination of an elite athlete.  It's too bad my body won't cooperate!  Saint Therese of Lisieux wrote, "I am but a poor little unfledged bird.  I am not an eagle, I have but the eagle's eyes and heart!"  I am in good company with my thoughts.

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Running - Half-Marathon Training #34

It is pretty amazing that I now consider four miles a short, easy run.  This was another beautiful Colorado run.  I wore a fleece but probably didn't need it.  Since the run was easy I got to focus on taking in all of the warm sunshine and spend some time with my thoughts.  


I had just read a blog post by my Bikini Bootcamp friend Maggie.  It was about judging people by how they look or by their stations in life.  After colorful examples from her life in Paris she concluded that we shouldn't judge and that we should be kind to everyone.  It made me think about our own unique hierarchy in the Army with enlisted soldiers and officers.  Different stereotypes abound for each group.  Many of us are guilty of judging a book by its cover when looking at people around us, which is something that Maggie warns against.  It's not uncommon for wives to in effect wear the ranks of their husbands, either in attitude or in how they are treated by others.  I would like to be able to judge and interact with other women based their own qualities regardless of their husbands' ranks, but admittedly sometimes the cover gets in the way looking both up and down the chain.  I want the covers to become more invisible so I can interact in a more meaningful way without fear of overstepping my boundaries.  I want to learn how to see people for who they truly are.  I'm not sure I can ever learn how to not judge, but perhaps I can better learn how to make judgement about the important rather than the superficial.


That being said, I start to ask myself, "Okay, so if people are going to judge me on my own qualities and achievements and not my husbands' what is there for them to judge me on?"  Another unique aspect of military life is that frequent moves make it difficult for the non-service member to maintain a career.  There are odd jobs to be had and plenty of volunteer opportunities, but it has been my observation that there are more stay-at-home moms in the military community than in civilian life.  According to a population survey, in 2008, 64 percent of mothers with children under the age of 6 and 78

percent of mothers with children ages 6-17 were in the labor force.   I wish I could find a corresponding military statistic so I could back up my observation with facts.  I'm thankful for the opportunity to stay home with Sophia but the truth is that I stopped working as soon as I got married and moved to Germany with Kenny.  I couldn't find a job in my field at the same rate of pay so rather than take a job with what I thought was insulting pay and vacations that didn't match Kenny's, I opted not to work full-time.

Is it enough these days to be a loving mom and dedicated wife?  I grew up ambitious, believing that I would do something important, and that something important would involve making lots of money.  I truly believe that being at home with my daughter when she was little was the most important place to be.  But she's in school now, so where are my ambitions going to take me?  I've fallen off of the business ladder so where am I going to climb now?

I've spent the last several months working on fitness certifications and training for my half-marathon to gain some "street cred."  Falling off of the business ladder has given me the opportunity to climb what is perhaps a more appropriate ladder for me, that of a teacher.  I'm not going to get rich being a teacher, but I would be proud if in the end people said that I was a loving mom, a dedicated wife, and a caring teacher that inspired people to get healthy and/or tap their inner creativity.  I hope I will have the opportunity to help people regardless of rank or station in life.

Lots to think about when the run is easy.

Gear

I sported some new running tights on this run.  I had to opportunity to shop at Nordstrom Rack where I found discounted activewear.  It was all pretty basic, but very functional.  It is getting warmer so I needed some running tights without the fleece lining.  I found a long pair and a cropped pair as well as some long-sleeved shirts which I think will be appropriate during much of the summer in Germany.

Goals

Today: Enjoy the sunny day and not push the pace too hard.

Short term:  Try to stay healthy and on schedule.
Long term:  Complete the Prague Half-Marathon within the maximum race time of 3 hours.

Stats
Distance:  4 miles
Time:  Just over 40 minutes
Pace:  ?
Weather:  Upper 50s

Thoughts

• I really loved my Colorado runs.  I didn't feel like the altitude bothered me very much and I was really impressed with all of the trails in the area.
  

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Running - Half-Marathon Training #32 & 33

For the record, I am in desperate need of getting my hair done, but that is snow on the top of my head, not grey hair.

We are on vacation in Colorado and I have had two great runs here in the mile high city.  My first run was on Sunday.  It was time to do a long run, but I still needed a short run for the week and I wanted to get a feel for the altitude.  There are all kinds of nice trails here by Kenny's childhood home.  Temperatures were in the 50s.  It felt good to get out and run after being cooped up in a flight from Germany.  Even at altitude I was able to run four miles in under 40 minutes, which is good for me.  It really helped to have nice, solid footing.

I did my long run today.  I was nervous because other than my four mile run on Sunday I was unfamiliar with the trails and five and a half miles out and back is kind of far on foot.  Kenny drove me around the area so I could get familiar with streets and landmarks.  My father-in-law thought maybe I shouldn't run today because temperatures dropped to the 20s and it is supposed to be nicer later in the week.  I told him I have been training in the cold all winter and the clothes I brought with me are better suited for colder temperatures.  I actually felt a little bit uncomfortable with 50 degree temperatures.  So, with cell phone in my pocket and Kenny's promise to return to the starting point in 110 minutes, I set out.

The first mile was rough.  I found that to be the case with my run earlier in the week.  That's when I felt the altitude.  But, after I settled into my pace my breathing didn't bother me anymore.  Kenny and I have an unsupported theory that once you have lived at a high altitude you're able to return and acclimate quickly.

At the start I had a little bit of a rough go keeping on my trail.  It wasn't always well-marked and there were many offshoots.  As I got closer to the mountains the residential areas got sparser and it was easier to find my way.

I forgot my fanny pack so I carried a small water bottle in my hand, making sure to alternate hands.  I also took along an energy bar.  I ate some of it at mile four, mile eight, and at the end.  I started running about nine which was two hours after breakfast so I had time to digest my food but I had a little something in my system.  I think this worked well.  I didn't feel hungry or thirsty during my run.  I felt like I was swimming a little bit when I went through a dark tunnel at mile eight but I ate a bit of my bar and felt better.

I've had trouble with blisters on my feet but I laced my shoes a little tighter today and my feet didn't feel terribly uncomfortable during the run.  I still had some blisters when I was done though.

I felt good during this run and didn't have to use any mantras or other motivational self-talk.  I managed a good pace, finishing five minutes faster than my 10 mile run last week.  It feels really good to work toward a goal and accomplish something that most people can't just go out and do.


Goals
Today:  Complete a long run at altitude.
Short term:  Try to stay healthy and on schedule.
Long term:  Complete the Prague Half-Marathon within the maximum race time of 3 hours.

Stats
Distance:  11 miles
Time:  1:57
Pace:  10:64
Weather:  20s and lightly snowing

Thoughts
I think I might just be able to complete the half-marathon and in a time that might not be too embarrassing.  I'm playing with the idea of training for a full marathon since I've gone to all the trouble to train for a half.  It would be better to just keep going now than to have to start from scratch later.  I don't know.  I'm not confident that I could do it.  But I didn't think I could do a half either.  I guess it's something to think about.

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Running - Half-Marathon Training #31

I guess I'm not going to be a foot model.  Ugly.


I teach yoga to a woman who went to the Yoga 360 training with me.  She wanted some extra instruction before she started teaching.  She brings an officemate to our sessions.  She shares her office with a third person that I just met yesterday.  She has tried to get him to come and he adamantly declines.  They were arguing back and forth about it when we were introduced.  His reason for not practicing yoga is that he is a runner.  I said that I wasn't going to push the issue but that yoga would help his running.  And, we let it go because I was there to teach yoga and not create new yogis.  He overheard us talking about my ugly runner's feet and I casually mentioned that I was running the Prague Half-Marathon in a few weeks.  He said he would not be running it because he's not ready.  In fact, he's not really running right now because of a bad knee.  He sounded kind of sheepish and I bit my tongue.  I wanted to explain all of the ways yoga can help runners and that I have worked through bad knees.  But I didn't say a word because I wasn't going to push the issue.  


About the ugly feet...I have a combination of thick callouses and blisters.  They don't really bother me when I'm running but they are starting to get troublesome in yoga and my Sculpt & Burn class.  Does anybody have any suggestions?


I had several hours to kill on post today between a doctor's appointment and a work lunch. I took all of my gear to run outside, but I didn't know a good long route.  I needed to run 5 miles.  It was windy and chilly outside and I couldn't really bear the thought of running the 1-mile loop five times.  I'm a big fan of variety in my landscape.  So, I chose an even more boring option, the treadmill.  I've managed to avoid the treadmill for my entire training so far but I was open to something new today.  I wasn't properly prepared for treadmill running.  My clothes were too warm and I had my trail running shoes.  But, I did it anyway.  It was an interesting exercise.  I chose some mild hills to mimic the real outdoor running landscape.  I warmed up slowly, sped up, decreased speed for hills and increased when there was no incline, and for the last mile picked a fast pace and increased speed a little bit after every 10th of a mile.  I ended up finishing my five miles in less than 50 minutes which was a super good time for me.  I did feel a little bit woozy afterwards.  It was a faster run for me and it was warmer as well.  I'm used to running outside, so running indoors with long pants, a short-sleeved shirt, and trail running shoes created a big temperature change for me.  I cooled off for the full five minutes and finished my bottle of water.  I was happy that I was at the gym so that I could get help if I needed it.  I ended up being just fine and even energized.


A little later I ran into a friend that is also training for Prague.  She complained about feeling mentally incoherent after her long runs.  I have experienced this as well.  After my 10 mile run on Monday I found it hard to maintain a conversation.  I'm glad I'm not the only one that this happens to, but I'd like to know what it is.  Anybody know?  I'll have to research it.  Today, after the shorter, faster run I drank a Chai tea latte and went to a meeting.  I didn't feel incoherent, but I felt like I was on fast forward when I was talking.  Maybe the caffeine had an exaggerated effect after a hard run?  Maybe my work team members think I'm crazy?

Goals

Today: Run faster.

Short term:  Try to stay healthy and on schedule.
Long term:  Complete the Prague Half-Marathon within the maximum race time of 3 hours.

Stats
Distance:  5 miles
Time:  49:20
Pace:  9:84
Weather:  Treadmill

Thoughts

• Happy to try something new today.  I think a treadmill could help me learn to run faster.
• I need to figure out how to fix my feet and look into why I feel incoherent after running.
• I also need to learn how to get my appetite under control.  I had a large salad with nuts and veggies for lunch along with some toasted bread.  This would usually be an adequate meal for me.  When I got home I was uncomfortably starving and wolfed down a banana, a piece of toast, a Luna Bar, and some veggie bacon strips.  I haven't stepped on a scale in awhile because I'm afraid of what it might say, but I'm probably gaining weight which would not be happy news.
  

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